Understanding Who is a Qualifying Child

The child must meet the basic tests under the Uniform Definition of a Qualifying Child and then each credit has additional rules the child and the person claiming the child must meet.

Uniform Definition of a Qualifying Child

The Working Families Tax Relief Act of 2004 amended in 2008 to add the joint return test set a standard definition of a qualifying child for these five child related tax benefits. In general, to be your client's qualifying child, a person must satisfy these tests:

Same principal residence as your client for more than half the tax year

Under age 19 at the end of the year

Under age 24 if a full-time student for at least five months of the year

Permanently and totally disabled during the year

Did not provide more than one-half of own support

Did not file a joint return (other than only to claim a refund of withheld taxes) with the child's spouse

The law also defined exceptions and special rules for dependents with a disability, divorced parents, adopted children and missing or kidnapped children. The exceptions and special rules for dependents with a disability and divorced parents are different for each of the child-related benefits; see the Child-related Tax Benefits Comparison chart for more information.

Adopted Child: An adopted child is always treated as your own child and includes a child lawfully placed with you for legal adoption.

Missing or Kidnapped Children: You may be able to claim a child who was kidnapped by a non-family member. IRS treats a kidnapped child as living with you for more than half of the year if the child lived with you for more than half the part of the year before the date of the kidnapping.